Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-03

great through highway.
But through all the years since
1912 the people and interests who
made it what it was under the Gar
rett regime have never had voice IN
its management. They have never
even had "a friend at court"-at least
none whose whisper has been heard
outside of the cabinet chamber.
1t has come to pass. however, that
reorganization is necessary-that new
blood must be introduced into the
directory, and we have seen with
qualification that the Georges Greek
coal region has at last been recog.
nized as worthy of represent tation in
the councils of the road. The choice
of Mr.. c. +. Mayer, president of the
Consolidation coal company, and of
the Cumberland and Pennsylvania
railroad company, by the syndicate,
was one of happy augury to this re-
gion. The official head of the largest
coal and railroad corporations in the
county, he is the man best equipped
and best armed for offence and de
fence when and wherever the aegis of
the road must be sought to protect
the rights or interests of this coal
field against the aggressiohs of CON.
petition. He is Joint advocate of
road and region in the roads cabinet.
He cannot promote the interest of
one without helping the other. He
is watchtul, sagacious, brave. 1t is
not likely anything concerning us
would escape his attention, study,
and, If unfriendly, his protest.
This view Of his presence in the
councils of the road, of his forcible
personality wherever he figures, will
be appreciated and felt more per-
ceptibly if he is made vice president
of the road.
In short, we feel that the coal IN
terest of this county rises in import
ance and value with the promotion
Of Mr.. Mayer.
1t would be still better for us were
he made president of the greatest of
Maryland's corporations.
WHEN the Homecoming Recie1c is
right it is right sure enough. In
speaking of the custom Of the miners
stopping work to attend the funerals
of those killed, it says:
Would itnOt have been more manly, SEN
sible, just and reasonable if work had been
continued and each miner had contributed
a car of coal and every day laborer dollar
to the support of the unfortunate family?
That would have been solid sympathy
something with bottom to 1t.
Those are words with the bark on.
They knock down mere sentiment
and stamp on it. And the following
suggestion is not bad:
The companies whose operations are him
dered by such stoppages should take the
Initiative in this matter and begin the sensible
reform by agreeing to add $75 or 800 to
relief fund in cases of fatal accident, pro-
vided their employees continue work and also
contribute
The Journal differs with the Re-
rlc'O concerning this matter only in
this: the men should not wait for the
companies to get the start of them in
the race for chance to perform a
noble act. The men being on the
ground should avail themselves of
their running start, and when they
have done all they can, invite the
company to join literally in the in
vestment "for sweet charity's sake"
The best idea of heaven the JOUR
NAL ever heard was concentrated in
the word, competition 1t was
said that there is rivalry up there,
activity, enterprise, work, and all
that goes to make business hum.
Saint, angel, seraph-all the degrees
of immortals that make up the glo.
ritied host are severally engaged in a
great competitive effort to do the most
good.
Hence, there are no invitations ex-
tended up there to anybody to "take
the initiative" An opportunity to
do good is treated like u house on fire.
Those on the ground 60 to work and
each tries his utmost to do more
than anybody else in putting it ont.
The paragraph below has been 60
ing the rounds:
Thomas C. Weeks, labor statistician, is pre-
pairing his report for the Legislature when it
meets in January. He says the condition of
labor is generally better than it was two or
three years ago, not that the rate of wages per
diem is more, but that there is more general
and constant employment.
He might add with trnth that tbn